Liverpool return to the King Power Stadium for the second time this season, in a completely different location from July

The possibilities seemed endless when Liverpool last visited the King Power Stadium over nine months ago.

Leicester City’s stadium was chosen to host the Community Shield at the end of July when a 3-1 victory over Manchester City again signaled that the two heavyweights of recent years were ready to compete for the Premier League title and beyond. beyond to measure the campaign to come.

There was even the bonus of Darwin Nunez eclipsing the other well-paid striker of the summer, City striker Erling Haaland, by leaping off the bench, converting a penalty and then scoring to save Pep Guardiola’s side grip.

It was the embodiment of a false dawn. Curtis Jones and Naby Keita, both substitutes in the final stages, did not return until October and December respectively, while Ibrahima Konaté was injured in the friendly loss to Strasbourg the following day which limited him with just three appearances before the New Year and one a week later,

Thiago Alcantara had to take a long break. The tone had been set.
As for Nunez, on his home debut against Crystal Palace, he was sent off and suspended after an unfortunate header. Although his debut season in England has so far resulted in an impressive 15 goals, he has been overshadowed by Haaland’s impressive production. by City.

Such setbacks go some way to explaining why Jürgen Klopp’s side now have increasingly slim chances of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League. Manchester United’s win at home to Wolves on Saturday afternoon, shortly after Newcastle United’s 2-2 draw at Leeds United, means the Reds are running out of games to let their opponents slide, the pair both have four points clear and all three fighters have only three games to play.

A superior goal difference means Newcastle are effectively one point ahead again, with the Magpies realistically needing just five points to finish top of Liverpool, while United would need six. Both have two home games to go against one for Klopp’s side.

While no Premier League side have lost fewer home games this season than the Reds – that shock defeat to Leeds in October was the only negative at Anfield – it was a different story away from home with just five wins. However, two came in consecutive games against Leeds United and West Ham United with the Reds looking for a third successive win in their away games for the first time in a year as they return to King Power to face struggling Leicester. – with whom they have lost in the last two visits – on Monday. At least one victory for Liverpool guarantees qualification for the Europa League. “Our away record this season is still not brilliant,” admits Klopp. “When I arrived here we had an early discussion about creating some sort of fortress at home again, but we weren’t in the top six or top four away from home. time. And we realized it wasn’t that hard.”

“The difference is not as big as we might think – but there is a difference and we have to make sure we are ready for that as well. That Anfield is a massive help and boost in a lot of moments is no secret and that we don’t have that, but we have three, four, five thousand people away and they are completely mad, they are completely on their toes for the whole 95 minutes.

“I know everybody wants to go now to the Champions League – I understand it 100%, I want (to), it’s just not really likely. That’s the situation we created. But to show up and show again that we are able to do special things, I’m really happy about. Winning six games in a row is special and if it would be easy, we would have done it much more often, other teams would have done it much more often. Adding the seventh on it is even more difficult.”

Klopp has a number of selection decisions to make for the Leicester clash. With Cody Gakpo likely to compete for forward positions, skipper Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott are pressing for a recall in midfield, while Luis Diaz could be considered for a third start since returning from a long-term knee problem. Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita remain out, along with Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Calvin Ramsay.

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Leicester City v Liverpool: 12 pre-match stats and facts

Ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Leicester City, check out a dozen interesting facts and figures on Monday night’s clash…

Liverpool have won 14 of the last 21 league encounters between the sides, while Leicester have claimed four victories and three games have been drawn.

Their most recent meeting came on the penultimate day of 2022, with the Reds winning 2-1 at Anfield; Wout Faes conceded two own goals after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall opened the scoring in the fourth minute.

There have been only three goalless draws in 105 league clashes between the teams, with two coming at Leicester – in 1998 and 2004.

If Liverpool score once in this game they will record their 400th goal under Jürgen Klopp as the away team in all competitions.

Mohamed Salah is one goal short of recording 20 in the Premier League for the fifth campaign out of the last six. He netted 19 in the other.
Not since September 2013 have the Reds won three successive league games by a 1-0 scoreline. Then, each time the winner was provided by Daniel Sturridge (against Stoke City, Aston Villa and Manchester United).
The only Liverpool player to have ever bagged a hat-trick away to Leicester is Robbie Fowler, who did so in a 4-1 victory at Filbert Street in October 2001.

PRESS CONFERENCEJürgen Klopp on Leicester ‘fight’, Salah’s 30 goals, setting the tone and more

Klopp’s men have already won at King Power Stadium this season, having defeated Manchester City 3-1 in the FA Community Shield with goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Salah (penalty) and Darwin Nunez.
Diogo Jota has scored four goals in 314 minutes of action for the Reds against Leicester in league and cup.
Alisson Becker is the only man to have played every minute of Liverpool’s league campaign so far this season.

Harvey Barnes tops Leicester’s scoring chart this term with 12 goals, all in the Premier League, ahead of James Maddison, whose 10 have also come exclusively in the top flight.

Goalkeeper Danny Ward made three appearances for the Reds before joining the Foxes in the summer of 2018.